Cameron Mackintosh's new 25th anniversary U.S. touring production of Les Misérables — redesigned and reimagined for a new generation — welcomes J. Mark McVey to the role of Jean Valjean beginning June 7, when the Tempe, AZ, engagement begins.

J. Mark McVey

McVey, a veteran of past productions of the musical, succeeds Lawrence Clayton, who launched the tour earlier this year. Ron Sharpe has recently been playing the heroic role of the thief who turns his life around in early 19th-century France.

McVey is a Helen Hayes Award-winning actor-singer who made his Broadway debut as Jean Valjean and played Les Miz for more than 2,900 performances (200 as Brujon in the first national tour in 1988-89 and more than 2,700 as Valjean over the years). His credits include The Who's Tommy, Stairway To Paradise, Hey Love, Show Boat, Chess, Carousel and My Fair Lady.

The Tempe run at ASU Gammage Auditorium plays June 7-12, followed by stops in Los Angeles; Seattle; Portland, OR; Denver; and beyond.

As previously reported, this new production of Les Misérables features a new staging and reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, whose epic novel is the show's source material.

Les Miz has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer from the original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. This production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and additional costumes by Christine Rowlands, lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter. McVey is in the company of Andrew Varela as Javert, Betsy Morgan as Fantine, Michael Kostroff as Thénardier, Shawna M. Hamic as Madame Thénardier, Jeremy Hays as Enjolras, Chasten Harmon as Éponine, Justin Scott Brown as Marius and Jenny Latimer as Cosette. Katherine Forrester and Anastasia Korbal alternate in the role of Little Cosette/Young Éponine. Josh Caggiano and Colin DePaula alternate in the role of Gavroche.